The Knicks are expected to hire Mike Brown as their new head coach, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link) confirms Brown has been offered the job and says the two sides are working “expeditiously” on finalizing the terms of a contract.
Brown, who began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards, Spurs, and Pacers, has since held head coaching positions with the Cavaliers (twice), Lakers, and Kings, as well as spending six years on the Warriors’ staff as Steve Kerr‘s top assistant.
He holds a career regular season record of 454-304 (.599), with a 50-40 (.556) mark in the postseason.
A Coach of the Year in Cleveland in 2009 and again in Sacramento in 2023, Brown helped the Kings snap a 16-year playoff drought two seasons ago, but after the team missed the playoffs in 2024 and got off to a slow start this past fall, he was let go and replaced with Doug Christie.
The Knicks’ decision to hire Brown caps off an eventful head coaching search that began with the team requesting permission to speak to several coaches already under contract with teams. The Mavericks (Jason Kidd), Timberwolves (Chris Finch), Rockets (Ime Udoka), Hawks (Quin Snyder), and Bulls (Billy Donovan) all declined the Knicks’ requests, prompting the club to turn to candidates who didn’t currently hold head coaching jobs.
Brown was one of at least four candidates interviewed by the Knicks, along with Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego, and Micah Nori. The team also reached out to South Carolina’s Dawn Staley to discuss the job, though it doesn’t sound as if she had a formal interview.
Brown had a second interview that included team owner James Dolan on Tuesday, with reporting later in the day indicating he was the frontrunner for the job. He was the only candidate confirmed to get a second meeting.
In his new role, Brown will be tasked with helping a Knicks team that advanced to the conference finals this spring make it over the hump and win its first championship since 1973. He’ll take over a roster headlined by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.